ok so steel is ordered going mx5 route , what is the best model to look for as a donor 1.6 or 1.8? and which version or age car is best ? mx5 or imported eunos

Just in time for spring/summer

I don't know too much about the MX5's but hopefully someone will be along soon.

well the garage has been empty for two weeks

hi I am using an mx5 mk 2.5 2003 with svt, the install is straight forward I added a mini supercharger and am fighting the wiring now... agh... label everything even if you don't need it when you strip/ disconnect things.
the import models don't have an immobilizer, although it does make up one form of security for iva, on the mk2.5there is no front to rear fuel return line it all happens beside the filter.
hp the 1.8 mk2.5 is @145bhp in std so is the better option there. Go onto the mx5 forums as there are quite often donors to be had reasonably due to chassis rot.
I do know early 1.6 had a weak crank,
There has been much discussion on the 6 spd box , consensus is its not worth the bother , heavier, bulkier and theres not much to gain in the gear ratios.
If you have questions then shout and if I can help I will. If you look back through my posts you will see my progress, slowed due to winter up here in the frozen north !!!! roll on spring, got most parts for the exhaust now, hopefully going to get a start up before long
Good luck with the build whereabouts on the planet are you?
Regards Gary
Also register on the other sites as there are a wealth of info from previous mx5 builds

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remember we are NOT mad ...... just creatively insane

thanks for that i am in dunfermline, you may get a call at somepoint i frequent your area in the summer, parents have a caravan nearby in the spey valley.
i have been looking on gumtree at cars locally theres a 2003 1.8 with unrecorded body damge for £600 , bit steep maybe but it has a new hood and full leather interior so maybe a good breaker. there seems to be plenty of the older models too around the £400 mark

I had a 1.6 uk mx5 mk1 that was bullet proof driving home one night it dropped a rod at110mph (sorry officer but prove location and date ) and with its leg out the bed it still got me the 5 miles home so the 1.6 was my choice when I was building my first one not sure about engine choice for my next build just yet

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Hi Mark , your welcome anytime just drop me a line
Gary

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remember we are NOT mad ...... just creatively insane

Great to see another car being built in Scotland, I'm even further North than Gary, did you manage to find a donor yet? I picked up a partly broken up MOT failure from the south side of Glasgow (cheers for the heads up on that one Gary). It's a 2003 mk 2.5 1.8 nevada. Haven't really started stripping yet due to the imminent arrival of child no2. Bad timing

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i havent found another donor yet , i missed another one last weekend locally. there has been a few real buckets around but i want something half decent i can break for parts and hopefully claw back some of the cost

the demand for mx5 must be great at the moment, i have missed three in the last week locally , all around the £500 mark with corrosion issues all sold in under 1 hour on gumtree